And the tumour on his shoulder grew at a terrifying rate, reaching the size of a bowling ball in just 12 weeks.

He had it removed in October last year and his most recent scan just a few days ago confirmed he is now cancer-free.

I should have died but the NHS saved me... Men should check for unusual lumps and bumps anywhere in their body

Kevin O'Neil

However, the gruelling surgery involved the removal of bones, which were replaced with a titanium sheet, and he is now on long-term medication.

He was recently treated at a hospice to get his pain under control.

cascadenews.co.uk

Kevin is now looking forward to a Christmas he never thought he would see, after a gruelling op and radiotherapy left him cancer free

WHAT IS MYOPERICYTOMA?

This is a rare soft tissue tumour, which typically affects the arms and legs.
In most cases the tumours, which tend to grow around a blood vessel, are benign, or non-cancerous.

The former trade union official said he is lucky to be alive and had nothing but praise for the medical professionals who cared for him.

He said: “The oncologist told me that had I been five to 10 years older there would have been no chance of me getting the operation because it was so high risk and it would have been a matter of palliative care for the rest of my life.